Closure for bottle stoppers and pourers



Aug. 5, 1941. D. M. FOX 2,251,446

CLOSURE FOR BOTTLE STOPPERS AND POURERS.

Filed Aug. 21, 1939 lNVENTOR Dan/e/ 4/. Fox

W ORNEY Patented Aug. 5, 1941 stares cairn C(LLOSUR'ELFOR BOTTLE STOPPERS AND :POURER'S 12 Claims.

This invention relates to a bottle stopper and pourer andparticularly to a covertherefor which is attached to thepourer in a simple manner without the use of hinges, pins, or any other additional parts.

An object of this invention is to eliminate all metal parts for joining the cover to the power, thus doing away with the possibility of rust and corrosion.

Another object of this inventionis to provide a simple construction for the cover and pourer head anda simple method of applying the cover to the head whereby it cannot readily fall off or be displaced from the pourer outlet opening.

- A more specific object of this invention is to provide a one piece molded bottle pourer and tip construction for the head thereof and a specific complementary construction for the closure member so that it fits over'the tip of the head in a particular manner to provide an efficient closure that stays in place, cannot readily fall off and eliminates the use of hinges.

The above and other important objects and advantages of thisinvention will become apparcut as the description proceeds, reference being hadto the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is a side elevation of the bottle stopper and poorer and closure therefor constructed according to .this invention;

Fig. 2 is afront elevation view of Figure 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing the closure in the down positionand illustrating the relative cross-sectional size of the head and opening in the closure member that ,fits on the head;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 taken higher up on the head at the point indicated by number I9 in Figure 1;

5 is a view similar to Fig. l showing the position of the closure when being turned about the head to a position at right angles to Fig. 4 forremoval of the closure off the head; and

Fig. 6 shows a modification of the closure where the frame of the opening that fits on the head is not split, the sectional view of the head being taken at'the'same place as Fig.4.

Referring to the drawing, It indicates generally the bottle stopper and pourer. It comprises a stopper l2 and a spout 53 which communicates with the inside of the bottle by means of an opening through the spout (not shown).

The outlet of the spout provides a seat for a closure member it which fits on a head, generally indicated by EB, made integral with the spout.

"approximately rectangular cross-section.

not necessarily be rectangular. cross-section other than circular may be used.

broken rectangular space 2|.

The head extends upwards from the spout from point It of largest approximately rectangular cross-section to point Iii of smallest The cross section of this portion of the head need Any suitable Fro-m point Hi the head tapers off 'to fiat sided tip I"? which is relatively wide and thin, as is shown on=Figures l and 2.

The closure i l may be of any suitable shape andsize to cover the outelt of the spout. It has an'extension i8 comprising two L shaped arms H! which come together atZB to form a rectangular frame of a cross-section slightly larger than cross-section 15. The closure 54 and arms I9 aremadeintegral of any suitable material, preferably a plastic, that, will allow some flexibility to arms ['9 without breaking. The cross-section o'fthe rectangle formed by arms I9 is so chosen that at its narrowest point it isslightly narrower than the widest point of the cross-section iii. Also,the widest side of the rectangle formed by arms i8 is slightly greater than the widest portion of 'thefiat side of the head ll. t will thus be "seen by referring to Fig. 5 that a slight force isnecessary in order to spring the arms 19 slightly'so'th'at the closure l4 may be turned at right angles to its'normal position. The closure may then be removed by passing it over the tip ll.

The operation for applying and removing the closure now becomes clear. From its normal seated position, the closure is lifted on the head it to the point I0 where it is turned at right angles (Fig. 5) and then lifted off past the tip &7. It is app-lied to the head by the reverse sequence of operations.

It will thus be seen that the closure of this invention may be readily applied to and be removed from the spout but it will not be displaced from its usual seated position by the jigling or shaking of normal use.

-In the modification shown by Fig. 6, the L shaped arms are joined together to form an un- This rectangular space must bewider at all points than the widest part of cross-section Hi. The method of applying and removing this closure of this modificati'on to the spout head is the same as inthe first bottle stopper and pourer is in the upright position as shown on Figures 1 and 2. When tilted for pouring the closure will unseat and slide upwards on the head. It canot fall oif the head in normal use because of the tip ll. It will be noted that in pouring the closure moves cmpletely out of the way of the outlet of the spout because of the backward curvature of the head relative to the outlet.

I do not wish to be limited to the exact show ing and description as is herein disclosed, but all equivalents as may fall within the scope of the appended claims are meant to be included.

I claim:

1. In a bottle stopper and pourer, a spout having an outlet, a closure for the outlet, a support for maintaining the closure in its operative position comprising a head connected to the top of the spout of non-circular scross-section which varies from a maximum area at the joining point with the spout to a minimum at its top, an extension on the closure formed with an opening substantially similar to the cross-section of the head and slightly greater in area than the maximum cross-sectional area of the head, the head adapted to pass through the opening in the closure to support the closure loosely and to maintain it upon the spout.

2. In a bottle stopper and pourer, a spout having an outlet, a closure for the outlet, a support for maintaining the closure in its operative posi tion comprising a head connected to the top of the spout of substantially rectangular cross section which varies from a maximum at the joining point with the spout to a minimum at its top, an extension on the closure formed with an opening of substantially rectangular cross-section and of a size slightly greater than the maximum cross-sectional area of the head, the head adapted to pass through the opening in the extension to support the closure loosely and to maintain it upon the spout.

3. In a bottle stopper and pourer, a spout having an outlet, a closure for the outlet, a support for maintaining the closure in its operative position comprising a head connected to the top of the spout, said head being of varying crosssection from a rectangular maximum area cross section at its bottom which cross-section continually decreases in area as it goes up to a relatively wide, substantially flat sided tip at its top, said closure having an extension formed with an opening of substantially similar cross-section as that at the bottom of the head, said head adapted to fit into the opening of the extension in the closure to maintain the closure in seated position on the outlet of the spout, the narrowest side of the opening in the extension being smaller than the Width of the flat sided tip on the head.

4. In a bottle stopper and pourer, a spout having an outlet, a closure for the outlet, a support for maintaining the closure in its operative position comprising a head connected to the top of the spout, said head being of varying crosssection from a rectangular maximum area crosssection at its bottom which cross-section continually decreases in area as it goes up to a relatively wide, substantially fiat sided tip at its top, said closure having an extension formed with an opening of substantially similar cross-section as that at the bottom of the head, said head adapted to fit into the opening of the extension in the closure to maintain the closure in seated position on the outlet of the spout, the narrowest side of the opening in the extension being smaller than the width of the flat sided tip on the head and the widest side of the opening in the ex tension being slightly larger than the width oi the flat sided tip on the head.

5. In a bottle stopper and pourer, a spout having an outlet, a closure for the outlet, a support for maintaining the closure in its operative position comprising a head connected to the top of the spout, said head being of varying crosssection from an oblong rectangular maximum area cross-section at its bottom which crosssection continually decreases to a substantially square rectangular cross-sectional area near its top and then flattens to a relatively wide substantially flat sided tip, said closure having an extension formed with an opening of substantially similar shape as the cross-section at the bottom of the head, the head adapted to fit into the opening of the extension in the closure to maintain the closure in position on the outlet of the spout, the narrowest side of the opening in the extension being slightly wider than the widest part of the square rectangular crosssection of the head.

6. In a bottle stopper and pourer, a spout having an outlet, a closure for the outlet, a support for maintaining the closure in its operative position comprising a head connected to the top of the spout, said head being of varying crosssection from an oblong rectangular maximum area cross-section at its bottom which crosssection continually decreases to a substantially square rectangular cross-sectional area near its top and then flattens to a relatively wide substantially flat sided tip, said closure having an extension formed with an opening of substantially similar shape as the cross-section at the bottom of the head, the head adapted to fit into the opening of the extension in the closure to maintain the closure in position on the outlet of the spout, the narrowest side of the opening in the extension being slightly wider than the widest part of the square rectangular cross-section of the head and the widest side of the opening in the extension being slightly longer than the width of the flat sided tip on the head.

7. In a bottle stopper and pourer, a spout having an outlet, a closure for the outlet, a support for maintaining the closure in its operative position comprising a head connected to the top of the spout, said head being of varying cross-section from an oblong rectangular maximum area crosssection at its bottom which cross-section continually decreases to a substantially square rectangular cross-sectional area near its top and then flattens to a relatively wide substantially fiat sided tip, said closure having two L shaped arms extending from it which come together to form a rectangular opening of substantially similar shape as the cross-section at the bottom of the head, the head adapted to fit into the opening formed by the L shaped members to maintain the closure in position on the outlet oi the spout, the narrowest side of the opening formed by the L shaped arms being slightly narrower than the widest part of the square rectangular cross-section of the head.

8. In a bottle stopper and pourer, a spout having an outlet, a closure for the outlet, a support for maintaining the closure in its operative position comprising a head connected to the top of the spout, said head being of varying crosssection from an oblong rectangular maximum area cross-section at its bottom which crosssection continually decreases to a substantially square rectangular cross-sectional area near its top and then flattens to a relatively wide substantially flat sided tip, said closure having two L shaped arms extending from it which come together to form a rectangular opening of substantially similar shape as the cross-section at the bottom of the head, the head adapted to fit into the opening formed by the L shaped members to maintain the closure in position on the outlet of the spout, the narrowest side of the opening formed by the L shaped arms being slightly narrower than the widest part of the.

square rectangular cross-section of the head and I, the widest side of the opening formed by the L shaped arms being slightly longer than the width of the flat sided tip on the head.

9. In a bottle stopper and pourer, a spout having an outlet, a closure for the outlet, a support for maintaining the closure in operative position comprising a head connected to the top of the spout of a varying non-circular crosssection, said cross-section being widest along a given line at the joining point with the spout and widest along a line substantially perpendicular to said given line at approximately the top of the head, an extension on the closure formed with an opening substantially similar to the cross-section of the head at the joining point with the spout, the head passing through the opening in the closure to support it.

10. In a bottle stopper and pourer, a spout having an outlet, a closure for the outlet, a support for maintaining the closure in operative position comprising a head connected to the top of the spout of varying substantially oblong crosssection, said cross-section having its long axis along a given line at the joining point with the spout and its long axis along a line substantially perpendicular to the given line at approximately the top of the head, an extension on the closure formed with an opening substantially similar to thecross-section of the head, at the joining point with the spout, the head passing through the opening in the closure to support it.

11. In a bottle stopper and pourer, a spout having an outlet, a closure for the outlet, a support for the closure, said closure in its operative position being slidably mounted on said support while locked against removal therefrom in any plane parallel to its operative position, said closure comprising a body portion for closing the outlet of the spout and an extension having an opening therein through which the closure support passes, said opening being of non-circular cross section and determined by two arms which extend from the body portion of the closure and envelop said support, said arms being adapted to provide an enlarged opening upon rotation of the closure relative to its operative position.

12. In a bottle stopper and pourer, a spout having an outlet, a closure for the outlet, a support for the closure, said closure in its operative position being slidably mounted on said support while locked against removal therefrom in any plane parallel to its operative position and removable therefrom by rotation relative to its operative position, said closure comprising a body portion for closing the outlet and arm portions for enveloping the said support.

DANIEL M. FOX. 

